Design: No more cylinders
The Echo (4th Gen) sits 5.2 inches tall, and it measures 5.7 inches in diameter. In addition to the spherical shape, the new Echo also has fabric covering the top portion of the speaker, so it lacks a hard plastic top panel for button controls. A fabric grille covers the majority of the Echo, and the four main buttons are located directly on top of the speaker. The speaker has a sleek and modern design. It looks like an expensive and high tech device, and it fits in with most home decor. However, it does take up a bit of space on a desk or table, so it’s not as easy to hide in a corner as its predecessor. This is a device that’s supposed to be seen—a conversation starter.
Setup Process: Super simple
Setting up the Echo is extremely easy, and it’ll take only a few moments if you already have the Alexa app downloaded. However, for the best possible experience, it’s a good idea to make sure the Alexa app is updated. In the Alexa app under the devices menu, you select on the “+” to add a device. Then, follow the prompts to add the Echo 4th Gen speaker to your home.
Sound Quality: Better music than ever before
The Echo (4th Gen) has significant sound upgrades. The Echo has a 3-inch neonadium woofer and dual 0.8-inch tweeters, which means it has an additional tweeter compared to its predecessor. The extra tweeter isn’t the only thing that makes the new Echo sound better though. The Dolby-powered speakers are strategically placed within the Echo for optimal sound, and the new round design allows for better sound delivery. The new mdoel can even adjust its sound based on room acoustics to provide the best possible music quality—a feature included on the more expensive Echo Studio. When testing speakers, I often listen to songs that include a range of low, mid, and high tones like the song Titanium by David Guetta featuring Sia. I also listen to songs with different types of bass, like Chains by Nick Jonas and Comedown by Bush. The Echo (4th Gen) is a surprisingly powerful speaker with clean sound and punchy bass. Music sounds phenomenal on the Echo, and it gets loud enough to play throughout an entire house.
Voice recognition: One less microphone
The Echo now has six microphones instead of seven. For the first few days I used the Echo, I had some trouble getting the device to hear me from any distance. I placed the Echo in my living room on a corner table, and I have an Echo Dot in my kitchen, the next room over. On some occasions, the Dot would hear my commands from the living room instead of the Echo. This lasted about two days, and then the Echo appeared to get its act together. I moved the Echo to a more central location in the room, which seemed to help too.
Features: A Zigbee Hub and temperature sensor
Price: A steal at $100
Google upped its game with the Nest Audio—another $100 smart speaker that focuses a lot on music and sound. Also made from environmentally friendly materials, the Nest Audio has a 75mm woofer and a 19mm tweeter, as well as the ability to adapt sound to the room. The Google Assistant-powered Nest Audio lacks a built-in Zigbee hub, temperature sensor, or second tweeter. If you’re a new buyer or you’re already an Echo user, you’ll probably like the extensive features you get with the Echo. But, if you’re already invested in Google Assistant, you’ll probably prefer the Nest Audio. A worthwhile investment, the new Echo looks better, sounds better, and it performs better in just about every category.
